Papier-maché toy animal and the like and method of making same.



0. A. THIBAULT.

PAPIER MAcH TOY ANIMAL AND THE LIKE AND METHOD 6F MAKING SAME. APPLICATION FlLED NO V. 9.191].

'LQVOfiMGo Patented June 25, 1918.

ORIGENE A. THIBAULT, 01F VICTORIAVILLE, QUEBEC, CANADA.

PIER-G I? TOY ANIMAL AND THE LIKE D MET 31 B 0F MAP? I" SAE.

readers.

specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jane 25, rote,

Application filed November 9, 1917. Serial No. 201,135.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that T, ORIGENE A. THI- BAULT, of Victoriaville, in the Province of toy animals, and method of manufacturing lib hesive. then covered for a suitable distance toward same, and especially to articles manufactured of papier niach, and the ob ect of the invention is to provide for the manufacture of very strongand durable articles at low cost. A further object is to provide-in the manufacture of toy animals a structure in. which the legs are inseparably connected to the body, and further a simple and reliable means of connecting the animal to its stand. In the ordinary course of manufacturing toys, such as papier mach representations of animals, it has been customary to form the body in right and left halves, and the legs separate. The legs are then connected to the body frequently by the same coverin of paper which connects the two halves o the body. It will thus be seen that the structure is comparatively fragile, especially when separated from its base. D ificulty is also experienced in securely attaching the toy to the base.

According to the present invention, the legs are formed substantially integral with each half of the body, and the legs and body are reinforced-on each side by a metallic member, which also provides a simple and ellicient means for attaching the animal to the base.

In the drawings which illustrate the 1n- Ventiom- Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical section of a toy animal.

Fig. 2 is a vertical cross section mid way between front and hind legs.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 11 designates the body and head of a toy animal, and 12 the legs. A suitable mold is rovided in which the body and legs are ormed. In the rocess of manufacture, this mold is fille with a suitable number of layers of. moist paper and ad- A metal reinforcing member 13 is each end withlayers of moist paper or pulp, and is laid in the mold in arcuate form, so that the reinforcing member is continuous through one front leg, the body, and one hind leg, the ends of the member projecting through the feet. A- suitable number of layers of moist paper are now superposed on the first layers and the whole mass subjected to pressure by means of a suitable die. The mold and dies may be heated for p the purpose of more rapidly drying and effectively setting the material. The other half of the animal is manufactured in the same manner, and the two halves brought together and secured by a wrapping of moist paper and adhesive. When dry, the animal is suitably decorated.

The final operation is the afiixing of the animal to its stand 14, which will obviously vary, according to the style of the toy. This is very readily effected by passing the ends 15 of the reinforcing members through suitable apertures in the stand and clenching them over on the under side. For fu security, the clenched ends may be hel by staples if desired. In the clenching process,-

the reinforcing members are subject to considerable tension, so that the animal is bound tightly to the stand, and at the same time the papier mach is brought into compression.

It will be noted that as the animal must be made in halves, each half will include a half of each of the four'legs. The reinforcements in one half will be fixed in one front and one hind leg, and these legs will be filled up. In the other half of the mold, the reinforcing member will pass through the remaining front and hind legs, which will also be filled. It Will thus be seen that before assembling, the halves each comprise a substantially solid front and rear leg,'and a hollow half front and rear leg. When the two halves are assembled, the filled or solid legs of the one unite with the hollow or unfilled legs of the other, so that when finished,

.the animal consists of a hollow body with form with the material under compression a structure which may be likened to a truss. From the foregoing description, it will be readily seen that the finished article is of I great strength and durability. The legsv is no danger of their being broken. This.

enables :the animals to beshipped from the factory separate from their stands and assembled after delivery. The saving thus effected in packing and-freight is of great importance, a: it-enables a considerable reduction to be effected in the retail sale price. A further opportunity for saving lies in the fact that stands may be 'manufactured locally," so as to avoid shipping costs entirely. a r

Having. thusdescribed' my invention, what I claim is:

-1. A toy'an'imal comprising a body and leg portions, and a pair of reinforcing members of arcuate form extending longitudinally each through the body and through one front and one hindleg.

2. A toy animal comprising a hollow body and legs, and. continuous reinforcing 'members passing longitudinally through the body and legs and bedded throughout their length in the material of the body and le s.

l). A toy animal comprising a hollow body and legs, and a pair of reinforcing members each continuous through a fore leg, the hollow body and a hind leg, and bedded throughout their length in the material of the body and legs and project- .ing through the ends of the legs, and a base secured to the animal by the projecting ends of said reinforcing members.

4. A method of manufacturing toy animals, which consists in forming the animal in two halves, each comprising a half of the body and a half of each of the four legs,-insert ing a reinforcing member in each half continuous through the front the reinforcing members 'pass in each half,

whereby the unfilled legs of one half will unite with the filled legs of the other half,

my hand.

ORIGENE A. THIBAULT.

legs, body and hind legs, said reinforcing members occup ing "alternate legs in the mold parts, filling the legs through which 

